Wine
Gomersal Wines Raises The Bar
Barossan heritage, first-rate wines and beautiful moments - that's Gomersal.
In the unassuming town of Gomersal, set amidst gently rolling pastures, crops and vineyards on the ancient lands of the Ngadjuri people, Gomersal Wines has emerged as one of the most respected Australian producers of Shiraz, celebrated for its exquisite character and intensity. That hard-earned status is all thanks to the efforts of Barry and Gabriela White, who with a small group of friends back in 2000 saw the potential in bringing life back to the old winery that had sat closed on the site since the early 1980s.
"I came home to Adelaide one afternoon and told my soon-to-be-wife Gabriela that we were going to invest in an old winery," says Barry. It was just the beginning of an all-encompassing journey. Originally established by the Fromm family in the 1880s as Wonganella Barossa Valley Wines, the site had last been home to Chateau Rosevale, renowned for a drop called Vin Spa, and had seen better days.
"Although it had been closed for 20 years, we were going to move on-site, open a cellar door and launch a new wine brand named Gomersal Wines," Barry recalls. "What caught our imagination was the potential of the existing big old Oregon timber and corrugated iron building, that in the pastwas used prominently as a bottling plant for wine, combined with the original, teeny-tiny tasting room."
In 2001, this fledgling new venture purchased a 60- acre block directly adjacent to the cellar door, in which was planted Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache. Piece by piece, the larger dream was brought to life: the cellar door was renovated and expanded with a majestic wraparound verandah granting views of the paddocks and vineyard; the old barrel room was repurposed as a rustic-styled venue for weddings and events with its high timber-beamed ceiling; and an arbour was built that created a glorious intertwining of vines, the perfect backdrop for all manner of ceremonies.
Barry's dad, Bob, would hand- build over 20 redgum and Oregon timber tables, while Gabriela's creative talents were brought to the fore. "Fairy lights, lanterns, vine canes... Gabriela's responsible for the many fine festive touches, helping bring the outdoors inside and enhancing the natural charm of the building," says Barry.
The result is a home worthy of Gomersal's great wines, rich in history and rustic appeal - and an award-winning wedding destination for countless young couples, taking home the Number 1 spot in South Australia's Wedding Industry Awards three years in a row. "We're grateful for the trust to host one of the most important days in the journey of life," says Gabriela, who has hosted bespoke weddings at Gomersal for over a decade. "And have loved every moment!"
Indeed, for those seeking a unique wedding, uniquely great wines, and an authentic Barossa experience, Gomersal is the definition of a dream come true.
Explore all that this celebrated Barossan destination offers at gomersalwines.com.au